Nidhi Companies : Introduction

INCORPORATION OF NIDHI COMPANIES

The Dictionary Meaning of Nidhi in Indian Context “In the Indian context / language means “TREASURE”. However, in the Indian financial sector it refers to any mutual benefit society notified by the Central / Union Government as a Nidhi Company. Nidhi Companies are created mainly for cultivating the habit of thrift and savings amongst its members.”

Nidhi Company” means a company which has been incorporated with the object of

-Cultivating the habit of thrift and savings amongst its members,

– receiving deposits from, and lending to, its members only, for their mutual benefit,

The Companies Act, 2013 has given due recognition to Nidhi Companies by treating them as a special class of companies. An entire Chapter, namely Chapter XXVI has been devoted to Nidhi Companies and relevant Rules also notified for them.

Section 406 of the Act defines a Nidhi to mean “a Company which has been incorporated as a Nidhi with the object of cultivating the habit of thrift and savings among its members, receiving deposits from, and lending to, its members only, for their mutual benefit, and which complies with such rules as are prescribed by the Central Government for regulations of such class of Companies.

Apart from the rules which were specially notified in relation to Nidhi Companies, all other provisions of the Act applied to them in the same way as to any other company. Hence a need was there to grant certain reliefs to these special class of companies.

EXISTENCE OF NIDHI COMPANIES

Nidhi Companies are much popular in South India and are highly localized single office institutions. Those are mutual benefit societies, because their dealings are restricted only to the members and membership is limited to individuals only. The principal source of funds is the contribution from the members. The loans are given to the members at relatively reasonable rates for purposes such as house construction or repairs and are generally secured. The deposits mobilized by Nidhi’s are not much when compared to the organized banking sector.

However, with the increasing restrictions of RESERVE BANK OF INDIA on NBFC Companies, the promoters have started moving towards incorporating the Nidhi Companies these days which have given a boom to the Nidhi Companies.

Relation with Reserve Bank of India: Since Nidhi’s come under one class of NBFCs, RBI is empowered to issue directions to them in matters relating to their deposit acceptance activities. However, in recognition of the fact that these Nidhi’s deal with their shareholder/ members only, RBI has exempted the notified Nidhi’s from the core provisions of the RBI Act and other directions applicable to NBFCs. As on date (February 2013) RBI does not have any specified regulatory framework for Nidhi’s.

APPLICABILITY

The Central Government made ‘Nidhi Rules, 2014’ for the purpose of carrying out the objectives of ‘Nidhi’ companies. Which are given under the Chapter XXVI of Companies Rules, 2014. These rules shall be applicable to-

Every company which had been declared as a Nidhi or Mutual Benefits under Section 620A(1)of Companies Act, 1956;

Every company functioning on the lines of a Nidhi company or Mutual benefit society but has either not applied for or has applied for and is awaiting notification to be a Nidhi or Mutual Benefit Society under Section 620A(1)of Companies Act, 1956;

Every company incorporated as a Nidhi pursuant to the provisions of Section 406of the Companies Act, 2013.

MAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR INCORPORATING A NIDHI COMPANY

Type of Company: Public Limited Company

Name of Company: It shall have the words ‘Nidhi Limited’ as part of its name;

Minimum Capital Required: Rs.5, 00, 000/-

Issue of Shares: Only Equity Shares can be issued. No preference shares shall be issued at any time in a Nidhi Comapny. If preference shares had already been issued by a Nidhi Company before commencement of this Act, such preference shares are to be redeemed in accordance with the terms of issue of such shares;

Objects of the company: The object of the company shall be cultivating the habit of thrift and savings amongst its members, receiving deposits from and lending to its members only for their mutual benefits;

MANDATORY REQUIREMENT NEED TO BE DONE AFTER INCORPORATION OF NIDHI COMPANIES

Every Nidhi shall, within a period of one year from the commencement of these rules, ensure that it has—

Minimum of Members: need to increase to 200;

Net owned funds: Shall be Rs.10,00,000/- or more

Where: ‘Net owned funds’ means the aggregate of paid up equity share capital and free reserved as reduced by the accumulated and intangible assets appearing in the last audited balance sheet; AND Ratio of net owned funds to deposit shall be not more than 1:20;

ACCEPTANCE OF DEPOSITS

A Nidhi shall not accept deposits exceeding 20 times of its Net Owned Assets as per last audited financial statements.

The fixed deposits shall be accepted for a minimum period of 6 months and a maximum period of 60 months.

Recurring deposits shall be accepted for a minimum period of 12 months and a maximum period of 60 months.

In case of recurring deposits relating to mortgage loans, the maximum period of recurring deposits shall correspond to the repayment period of such loans granted by Nidhi.

The maximum balance in a savings deposit account at any given time qualifying for interest shall not exceed Rs.1,00,000/- and the interest shall not exceed 2% above the rate of interest payable to savings bank account by nationalized banks.

Interest for fixed and recurring deposits shall be at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate of interest prescribed by RBI which the NBFC can pay on their public deposits.

Every Nidhi shall invest and continue to keep invested, in unencumbered term deposits with a scheduled commercial bank or post office deposits in its own name an amount which shall not be less than 10% of the deposits outstanding at the close of the business on the last working day of the second preceding month.

In case of unforeseen commitments, temporary withdrawal may be permitted with the prior approval of the Regional Director for the purpose of repayment to depositors, subject to such conditions and time limit which may be specified by the Regional Director to ensure restoration of the prescribed limit of 10%.

CONDITIONS WHILE ISSUING OF LOAN TO MEMBERS

A Nidhi shall provide loans only to its members. The loans given to a member shall be subject to the following limits:

Rs.2,00,000/- where the total amount of deposits from members is less than Rs.2 crores;

Rs.7,50,000/- where the total amount of deposits from its members more than Rs.2 crores but less than Rs.20 crores;

Rs.12,00,000/- where the total amount of deposits from its members is more than Rs.25 crores but less than Rs.50 crores;

Rs.15,00,000/- where the total amount of deposits from its members is more than Rs.50 crores.

LOCKER AFCILITY

Nidhi’s which have adhered to all the provisions of these rules may provide locker facilities on rent to its members subject to the rental income from such facilities not exceeding 20% twenty per cent of the gross income of the Nidhi at any point of time during a financial year.

GENERAL RESTRICTION IMPOSED UNDER RULE 6 OF CHAPTER XXVI THE ACT

No Nidhi Company shall-

Carry on the business of Chit Fund, Hire Purchase Finance, Leasing Finance, Insurance or Acquisition of Securities issued by anybody corporate;

Issue Preference Shares, Debentures or Any Other Debt Instrument by any name or in any form whatsoever;

Open any Current Account with its members;

Acquire another company by Purchase of securities OR Control the composition of the Board of Directors of any other company in any manner whatsoever OR Enter into any arrangement for the change of its management, unless it has passed a special resolution in its general meeting and also obtained the previous approval of the Regional Director having jurisdiction over Nidhi;

Carry on any business other than the business of borrowing or lending in its own name;

Accept Deposits from or lend to any person, other than its members;

Pledge any of the assets lodged by its members as security;

Take Deposits from or lend money to anybody corporate;

Enter into any Partnership Arrangement in its borrowing or lending activities;

Issue or cause to be issued any advertisement in any form for soliciting deposit;

Pay any brokerage or incentive for mobilizing deposits from members or for deployment of funds or the granting loans.

Membership

A Nidhi shall not admit a body corporate or trust as a member.

Except as otherwise permitted under these rules, every Nidhi shall ensure that its membership is not reduced to less than 200 members at any time.

A minor shall not be admitted as a member of Nidhi. However, But deposits may be accepted in the name of a minor, if they are made by the natural or legal guardian who is a member of Nidhi.

OPENING OF BRANCHES

A Nidhi may open branches only if it has earned net profits after tax continuously during the preceding three financial years.

The company may open up to 3 branches only within the district.

If it proposes to open more than 3 branches within the district or any branch outside the district, it shall obtain prior permission of the Regional Director and intimation is to be given to the Registrar about opening of every branch within 30 days of such opening.

No Nidhi shall open branches or collection centers or offices or deposit centers, or by whatever name called outside the State where its registered office is situated.

Further branches or collection centers or offices or deposit centers shall be opened unless financial statement and annual return are filed with the Registrar.

FILING OF RETURNS WITH CONCERNED REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES

Within 90 days from the closure of the first financial year after its incorporation in Form NDH – 1 along with such fee as prescribed with the Registrar duly certified by a Company Secretary in practice or a Chartered Accountant in practice or a Cost Accountant in practice.

If the company is not complying with the above it shall within 90 days from the close of the first financial year, apply to the Regional Director in Form NDH -2 along with fee for extension of time and The Regional Director may consider the application and pass orders within 30 days of the receipt of the application.

If there is failure the Nidhi shall not accept any further deposits from the commencement of the second financial year till it complies with the provisions besides being liable for penal consequences provided in the Act.

PENALTY

If a company contravenes any of the provisions of the rules the company and every officer of the company who is in default shall be punishable with fine which may extend to Rs.5,000/- and where the contravention is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to Rs.500/- for every day after the first during which the contravention continues.

EXEMPTIONS AVAILABLE TO NIDHI COMPANIES

The Ministry of corporate Affairs has by way of notifications dated 5th June, 2015, released the most anticipated exemptions for Nidhi Companies which has ease the business of Nidhi Companies and the companies and their promoters are being exempted from complying with huge compliances under the act, the circular regarding which can be viewed at http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/Exemptions_to_nidhis_companies_05062015.pdf

CONCLUSION: The core point which has been derived from this article drawn is that now the Companies Act 2013 has given the utmost importance to the Nidhi Companies also and has ease the procedure of incorporation which has brought the interest of promoters towards incorporating the Nidhi Companies instead of incorporating and working under huge NBFC Companies which require following of a no. of RBI Compliances too. With a small funding a normal business man can also now start Nidhi Companies and enjoy the business of Financing without following the RBI compliances but restricted to Companies Act Compliances. However, the Companies Act compliances also put a no. of restrictions which need to be followed otherwise these companies are always in eyes of Regulators to penalize and wind up as huge no. of investor and public is involved in such companies.

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